Power actuating means for swinging door



April 23, 1957 M. cARLsoN POWER ACTUATING MEANS FOR SWINGING DOOR Filedoct. 12, 1955 2 Shepts-Sheet 1 NNN April 23, 1957 M. cARLsoN POWERACTUATING MEANS FOR SWINGING DOOR Filed Oct. 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2fdl@ United States Patent O POWER ACTUATING MEANS FOR SWINGING DORMartin Carlson, Brookfield, Ill., assigner to George W. Houlsby, Jr.,Chicago, lll.

Application October 12, 1955, Serial No. 540,023

4 Claims. (Cl. 268-66) The present invention relates to power actuatingsystems for swinging doors and more particularly to hydraulicallyenergized door actuating units adapted to be mounted adjacent andconnected to a swinging door to open the door by power supplied throughthe actuating uid and then close the door mechanically. Door actuatingmeans of this character is disclosed in the patent application of MartinCarlson on Automatic Door Operator, Serial No. 327,835, filed in theUnited States Patent Ofce December 24, 1952, now Patent 2,739,888 issuedMarch 27, 1956.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved door actuatingunit of the above character which utilizes the mechanical d oor closingstructure of the unit 4and iluid of the hydraulic actuating system tocheck hydraulically the hydraulically energized door opening movement ofthe unit as it approaches an extreme open-door position.

Another object is to provide an improved door actuating unit, as recitedabove, which is strikingly economical and compact in construction andwhich provides for ready adjustment of the degree to which door openingmovement is checked hydraulically as it approaches a predeterminedopen-door position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription of the exemplary form of the invention shown in thedrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention, illustratingcertain standard components diagrammatically and showing a horizontalsection, taken generally along the irregular line 1--1 with reference toFig. 2 of the door actuating unit;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the actuating unit takengenerally along the irregular line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary -sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 3--3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 4--4 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5of Fig. 4.

As shown, the exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises ahydraulically energized, door actuating unit 1t), Figs. l and 2, mountedsubstantially Hush with the floor 12 in underlying relation to thepivotally supported vertical edge of a swinging door 13 (shown only inphantom, Fig. 2). In general the working parts of the actuating unit aremounted on base means including support structure attached to theunderside of a at horizontal top plate 14. The top plate 14 togetherwith a sump pan 16 secured to the underside of the plate forms anenclosure for the working structure, which will be presently describedin greater detail.

As shown, the sump pan 16 depends from the plate 14 into an upwardlyopen metal casing 13 set into a recess 20 in the oor 12. Suitablesupports 21, Fig. l, in the casing 18 extend upwardly into engagementwith the lower marginal edge of the plate 14 to support the plate flushwith the floor 12.

2,789,814 Patented Apr. 23, 1957 ICC The upper end of a vertical dooractuating shaft 22 extending through one end of the plate 14 isconventionally shaped to form a nonrotatable, supporting connection witha standard fitting (not shown) attached to the lower edge ofthe pivoteddoor to locate the shaft 22 concentrically with the pivotal axis of thedoor.

The portion of the shaft 22 passing through the upper plate 14 isjournaled in a combined bearing and seal fitting 24 of a standardconstruction inserted upwardly into an aperture 26 in the plate.

The extreme lower end of the shaft 22 is journaled and supported by anantifriction bearing 28 capable of carrying both thrust and radialloads. Support for the bearing 28 is provided by a horizontal footportion 3d of a support block 32 attached to the underside of the plate14. Additional support for the free end of the support block foot 30,which extends toward the adjacent end of the sump pan 16, is provided bya vertical standard 34, Figs. 1 and 2, extending downwardly from theplate 14 and providing, as will presently appear, a convenient stop forpositively terminating door opening movement of the shaft 22. t

he shaft 22 is rotated in opposite directions by a butterfly cam 36attached to the shaft 22 between the upper and lower bearings 24 and 28and having a door opening lobe 38 and a door closing lobe 40 extendinggenerally in opposite directions from each other.

The door opening lobe 38 of the cam 36 is engaged by a cam actuatingroller 41, Fig. l, journaled on the adjacent projecting end of a piston42 slidably mounted in a cylinder 44. Integral with the previouslymentioned support block 32, the cylinder 44 projects generally away fromthe cam lobe 38. The end of the cylinder 44 adjacent the cam lobe 38 isopen thus permitting the piston 42 to project freely from the cylinderto hold the roller 41 in engagement with the cam lobe.

The opposite end of the cylinder 44 is closed, Figs. 1 and 3, by aportedhead 46 bolted to the support block 32 defining the cylinder. Ahelical compression spring 48 mounted in the cylinder 44 between thehead 46 and the piston 42 biases the latter to hold the roller 41, Fig.1, continuously against the door opening cam lobe 38.. The piston 42 asenergized hydraulically through the head y 46 and connected to the shaft22 through the cam 36 n forms a hydraulic actuator for the unit.

Operating fluid is supplied under pressure to the head 46 through ahollow stem 50 connected into the head, as shown in Fig. 3, andextending horizontally out through a threaded hole 51, Fig. l, in thesump pan 16.

As shown schematically in Fig. l, the outer end of the hollow stem 50 isconnected by a conduit 5'2 to the outlet of a power operated unit 54 ofconventional construction capable of supplying operating fluid und-erpressure. controlled electrically through wires S6 from a conventionaldoor control 57. For a complete description of pressure fluid supplymeans S4 and electrical control means 56 suitable for this purpose,reference may be made to the previously mentioned patent applicationSerial No. 327,835. lt is sufficient here to note that upon operation ofthe control 57 the pressure fluid supply unit 54 responds to force iluidunder pressure through the conduit 52 and the stern Sil into ahorizontal bore 58, Fig. 3, in the ported cylinder head 46.

From the bore 58 the operating fluid flows into a vertical bore 60closed at the lower end by a plug 62 having an upwardly extending sternportion 64, which forms alower stop for a piston 66 vertically slidablewithin the upper end of the bore 60. Normally the piston 66 is helddownwardly against the stop 64 by a helical spring 68 coiled around astem 70 extendingupwardly from the piston.

As indicated, the pressure fluid supply unit :'54 is The admission ofuid under pressure into the lower end of the bore 60 forces the piston66 upwardly to engage the tapered upper end 72 of the stem 70 with anexhaust valve orifice 74 formed by the juncture of the upper end of thebore 60 with the lower end of a vertical exhaust bore 76 of smallerdiameter.

Fluid in the bore 60 below the piston 66 ows through a horizontal bore78 and an orilice 80 into a bore 52 which communicates through a one-wayball check valve 84 and a bore 86 with the chamber defined in thecylinder 44 between head 46 and the piston 42. 'Ihe rate at which iluidenters the cylinder 44 and hence the speed with which the shaft 22rotates by extension of the piston 42 is regulated by a needle valvemember 86, Fig. 3, extending down through the bore 82 to coact with andvary the effective flow area of the orifice 0.

After supplying fluid under pressure to turn the shaft 22 to operudcorposition and hold it in thatposition for a predetermined period thefluid supply unit 54, op-

erated by the control 57 as described in the previously f mentionedapplication, Serial Number 327,835, now Patent 2,739,808, releases thepressure on the fluid supplied through the stem into the lower end ofthe bore 60, Fig. 3. This allows the spring 63 to force the piston 66and stem 70 downwardly to unblock the outlet orilice 74 in the lower endof the bore 76. This establishes communication between the bore 76through the upper end of the bore 60 with an exhaust bore S7 opening outthrough the head 46 into the sump pan 16.

The upper end of the bore 76 connects with a horizon tal bore 89 whichcrosses the upper end of the bore 82 around a necked down portion of thevalve member 38 to connect with the lower ends of two parallel bores 90and 92 extending downwardly into the head 46 in parallel relation to thebore 82.

The lower ends of the bores 90, 92, communicate respectively with theupper ends of vertical bores 94, 96 of smaller diameter. The effectiveilow area connecting the bore 9d with the bore 90 is controlled by aneedle valve member 9S threadedly supported in the upper end of the bore90. Similarly, the effective ow area of the juncture between the bore 96and the bore 92 is controlled by a needle valve member 100 threadedlysupported in the upper end of the bore 92.

The lower ends of the bores 94 and 96 join, respectively, withhorizontal bores 102 and 104 which communicate with the cylinder 44. Thebore 102 is disposed in coaxial relation to the cylinder 44 to receivethe adjacent end of a throttling pin 106, Figs. l and 3. The pin 106 isslidably supported in the piston 42 in coaxial relation to the piston insuch a manner that the pin is fully retracted from the bore 102, asshown in Fig. v3, when the piston is extended away from the head 46 toturn the shaft 22 to open door position. A spring 103 in the piston 42urges the pin 106 yieldably toward the head 46 to engage the bore 102after the piston 42 has progressed part-way from open door positiontoward closed door position in the cylinder 44.

During a first phase of movement of the piston 42 to ward the head 46,as produced by turning movement of the shaft 22 from open door towardclosed door position, uid is expelled from the cylinder 44 through boththe bores 102 and 104 to escape through the exhaust bore 87 into the oilsump pan 16. Hence, the speed at which the shaft 22 can turn towardclosed door position during this iirst phase of its movement iscontrolled by the setting of the valve members 98 and 100. Aftermovement of the piston 42 has progressed sufliciently by door closingmovement of the shaft 22 to engage the pin 106 with the bore 102, uid isexhausted from the cylinder 44 only through the bore 104 at a ratedetermined by the setting of the valve member 100. The result is tocheck door closing movement of the shaft 22 as it approaches closeddoorposition.

Access for adjusting the valve members 38, 98, and

4 to regulate the spe-ed at which the shaft 22 is turned towardopen-door position and at which it may be returned first at a higherspeed and then at a lower speed to closed-door position is providedthrough a covering plug 110 threaded into the plate 14 in overlyingrelation to the valve members. See Fig. 3.

In the event the shaft 22 is turned toward open-door position by manualactuation of the attached door 13 fluid from the pool in the sump pan 16enters the cylinder 44 through a screened plug 112, Fig. 3, in the lowerside of the head 46 containing a check valve 114 and communieating withthe iiuid supply bore 36 at the downstream side of the one-way valve 84.

Fluid discharged from the cylinder head 46 maintains e. pool ot liquidin the sump pan 16 at a substantial level, predetermined by the verticalposition of an overflow connection 116 to the pan, Figs. l and 2. Aconduit 118 connects the overilow 116 to the fluid supply unit 54, whereit is pressurized as needed to turn the shaft 22 toward open-doorposition as described.

In accordance with the present invention, hydraulic fluid of the systemused for turning the shaft 22 by power toward open-door position and forcontrolling the return movement of the shaft toward closed-door positionis used in conjunction with means in the unit which mechanically rotatesthe shaft back to closed-door position to check hydraulically thedoor-opening movement of the shaft as it approaches open-door position.

Structurally, the means incorporated into the door actuating unit tomechanically return the shaft 22 to closeddoor position comprises arotary cam actuator 120, Figs. l and 2, supported for engagement withthe door closing cam lobe 40 by a reciprocable actuator guide block 122slidably mounted in the previously mentioned support 32 for translationin parallel spaced relation to the piston 42.

The actuating roller 120 is urged hard against the doorclosing cam lobe40 by a helical compression spring 124 acting between the slidable block122 and a cylinder block 126, Figs. l, 2, 4, and 5 in the opposite endof the pan 16. The cylinder block 126 is attached to the plate 14 andreinforced against the spring 124 by a horizontal plate 128 fastened toboth the lower side of the cylinder block and the previously mentionedsupport 32.

Door-opening movement of the shaft 22 works the cam lobe 40 against theroller 120 to compress the spring 124 which operates, upon relaxation ofthe hydraulically pro duced force of the roller 40 against the cam lobe38, to turn the shaft 22 in the reverse direction back to closeddoorposition.

A guide stem 130 connected at one end to the slidable door-closing block122, Fig. l, extends through the spring 124 to actuate means within thecylinder block 126, Fig. 4, which hydraulically checks door-openingmovement of the shaft 22 as it approaches open-door position. As shownin Fig. 4, the end of the guide stem 130 opposite the block 122 ispinned to a piston 132 slidably disposed within a horizontal cylinder134 defined in the block 126.

The end of the cylinder 134 opposite the piston 132 is covered by a plug136, Fig. 4, threaded into the block 126. A uid inlet, axial bore 133extending through the plug 136 is covered at its outer end by a screen140 and shaped internally to coact with a ball check valve 142 whichprevents a reverse flow of iluid from the cylinder 134 out through theinlet bore.

As shown in Fig. 2, the inlet bore 133 covered by the screen is belowthe level of the drain connection 116 and hence covered by the pool ofliquid of the actuating system contained in the sump pan 16.

ln turning the shaft 22 toward closed-door position in the mannerdescribed, the spring 124 operates through the block 122 and the stern130 to move the piston 132 away from the plug 136 thus enlarging thechamber defined by the piston and cylinder 134. Enlargement of thechamber within the cylinder 134 in this manner draws fluid from withinthe sump pan 16 through the bore 138 and past the valve 142 into thecylinder.

Hydraulically energized turning movement of the shaft 22 towardopen-door position in the manner described operates through the cam lobe40 and the roller 120 to force the piston 132 toward the plug 136 toproduce an outtiow of liquid from the cylinder 134. Until the shaft 22approaches its open door position, uid in the cylinder 134 escapeslargely through an exhaust bore 144, Figs. 4 and 5, extending from thecylinder through the block 126 at a position along the axis ofthecylinder aligned with a medial portion of the overall stroke of thepiston 132. It will be noted that a ball check valve 146 in the exhaustbore 144 prevents the inflow of uid through the bore 144 into thecylinder 134 to bypass the screen 140 during subsequent retraction ofthe piston 132 from the plug 136.

As the shaft 22 approaches its open-door position, the piston 132 movesacross the inner end of the exhaust bore 144 closing off this escapepassage. The size of the outlet bore 144 is such that movement of thepiston 132 in the cylinder 134 does not restrict, vas a practicalmatter, the speed of door-opening movement of the shaft 22 until thebore 144 is cut oi by the piston as recited.

As the piston 132 crosses the bore 144 the speed of the piston isprogressively slowed hydraulically to a greatly reduced valuecorresponding to the rate at which fluid can escape from the cylinder134 through a slow speed orifice 148, Fig. 4, formed at the juncture ofthe upper end of a bore 150 with the lower end of a larger bore 152. Thelower end of the bore 150 communicates with the cylinder 134 immediatelyadjacent the plug 136. The effective iiow area of the slow speed orifice148 is regulated by an adjustable needle valve member 154 threadedlymounted in the bore 152. Fluid escaping through the orifice 148 into thelower end of the bore 152 is discharged through an exhaust bore 156 backinto the sump pan 16. Access for adjusting the valve member 154 isprovided through an opening in the plate 14 normally closed by a plug158, Fig. 2.

Hence, the final phase of the door opening movement of the shaft 22continues at a very slow speed, as determined by the rate at which uidcan escape from the cylinder 134 through the orifice 148, until the dooropening cam lobe 38 engages the standard 34, Fig. 1, which forms apositive stop determining the extreme open-door position of the shaft22.

Thus, in an extremely simple, economical manner the hydraulic fluid ofthe hydraulic door-opening system is used in conjunction with themechanical door closing structure of the unit to check the door-openingmovement of the shaft 22 as it approaches its extreme opendoor position.As a consequence, the unit is capable of swinging a door quickly betweenclosed and open positions and checking the door in open position with nosignificant impact or jar on either the door actuating unit or theattached door.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention,it will be apparent that numerous variations and modications thereof maybe made without departing from the underlying principles and scope ofthe invention. I therefore desire, by the following claims, to includeall such variations and modifications by which substantially the resultsof my invention may be obtained through the use of .substantially thesame or equivalent means.

I claim:

1. A hydraulically energized actuating unit for a swinging door,comprising, in combination, base means, a shaft rotatably mounted onsaid base means and adapted for connection with a swinging door forturning movement therewith, a power-operated hydraulic actuatorconnected to said shaft to turn the latter in a given door-openingdirection, a reciprocable door-closing member, spring means biasing saidmember in one direction, means connecting said door-closing member tosaid shaft to transmit thereto the force of said spring means as amoment tending to turn said shaft in a door-closing direction oppositeto said door-opening direction thereof and to move said door-closingmember in a direction opposite said one direction upon turning movementof said shaft in said door-opening direction, a piston connected to saiddoor-closing member, cylinder means connected to said base means andreceiving said piston; said cylinder means including means coactingtherewith to dene with said piston a fluid chamber expandable andcontractible, respectively, upon movement of said door-closing memberand the attached piston in said one direction and in said directionopposite thereto; one-way valve means connected to said chamber toprovide for unidirectional fiow of uid thereinto, means defining aslow-speed escape orifice connected to the end of said chamber oppositesaid one direction of movement of said door-closing member, anadjustable needle valve coacting with said slow-speed escape orifice tovary the eective iiow area thereof, and means defining a high speedescape orifice communicating with said chamber through the side .of saidcylinder along the medial portion of the stroke of said pistontherethrough.

2. A hydraulically energized .actuating device for swinging doors,comprising, in combination, base means, a shaft rotatably `mounted onsaid base means and adapted for connection to a swinging door, ahydraulic actuator connected to said shaft to turn the latter in apredetermined door-opening direction, door-closing means supported formovement in opposite directions, spring means biasing said door-closingmeans in a doorclosing direction, means connecting said door-closingmeans to said shaft to transmit thereto force of said spring means as amoment tending to turn the shaft in a door-closing direction opposite tosaid door-opening direction thereof and to move said door-closing meansin a direction opposite to said door-closing direction thereof uponturning movement lof said shaft in said door-opening direction thereof,first hydraulic means constituting a piston, second hydraulic meansconstituting a cylinder receiving said piston and including meanscoacting therewith to define with said piston a fluid chamber expandableand contractible upon movement of the piston within the cylinder, one ofsaid hydraulic means being connected to said base means and the other ofsaid hydraulic means being connected to said door-closing means toexpand and contract said chamber respectively upon movement of saiddoor-closing means in said door-closing direction thereof and in saidopposite direction thereof, one-way valve means connected to provide aunidirectional flow of fiuid to the end of said cylinder toward whichsaid piston moves to contract the chamber, means defining a restrictedfluid escape outlet from the end of said chamber adjacent the connectiontherewith of said one-way valve means, and means defining a high speediiuid escape passage communicating with said chamber through the side ofsaid cylinder along the medial portion of the stroke of said pistontherein.

3. Hydraulic actuating means for a swinging door, comprising, incombination, base means adapted to be mounted below a swinging door andincluding means defining a sump for hydraulic fluid, a vertical shaftrotatably mounted on said base means and adapted for connection with aswinging door along the axis thereof, a door opening cam on said shaft,a hydraulic door opening actuator including a hydraulically operated camactuator engaging said door opening cam for imparting door-openingturning movement to said shaft, means defining a fluid exhaust from saidhydraulic actuator into said sump, iiuid supply means connected tosupply tiuid under pressure controllably to said actuator, drain meansconnected to said sump means to return fluid from a predetermined upperlevel therein to said iiuid supply means, a door-closing cam on saidshaft, a door-closing cam follower engaging said door-closing cam,spring means avea-sm mounted to urge said door-closing cam follower'hardagainst said door-closing cam to Iapply a door-closing moment to saidshaft opposite to the Idirection of door opening movement thereof, apiston connected to said door-closing cam follower, cylinder meansconnected to said base means and receiving said piston to definetherewith a chamber expandable and contractible respectively uponmovement of said door-closing cam follower and said piston by saidspring means and upon movement of said Idoor-closing cam follower andsaid piston in opposition to said spring means, means defining a iuidinlet passage extending from Within said sump means below saidpredetermined upper level into the end of said cylinder toward whichsaid piston moves to contract Said chamber, said inlet passage definingmeans including a one-way valve for preventing the flow of fluid outthrough .the passage from the cylinder, means defining a slow speedexhaust orifice connected between the interior of said sump means andthe end of said cylinder adjacent the cylinder end of said inletpassage, an adjustable valve member extending into proximity to saidorifice to regulate the effective size thereof, and means defining ahigh speed exhaust passage opening into the interior of said sump meansand communicating with said chamber through a portion of said cylindertraversed by said piston during a medial portion of the stroke thereof.

4. A hydraulically energized actuating device for swinging doors,comprising, in combination, base means including means defining a sumpfor hydraulic iiuid, a shaft rotatably mounted on said base means and`adapted to be connected to a swinging door, a hydraulic actuatorconnected to said shaft to turn the latter in `a predetermineddoor-opening direction, means defining a hydraulic exhaust from saidactuator into said sump, door-closing means supported for movement inopposite directions, spring means biasing said door-closing means in adoorclosing direction, means connecting said door-closing means to saidshaft to transmit thereto force of said spring means as a moment tendingto turn the shaft in a doorclosing direction opposite to saiddoor-opening direction thereof and to move said door-closing means in adirection opposite to said door-closing direction thereof upon turningof said shaft in said door-opening direction thereof, first hydraulicmeans constituting a piston, second hydraulic means constituting acylinder receiving sai-d piston and .including means coacting therewithto define with said piston a chamber expandable and contractable uponmovement of the piston Within the cylinder, one of said hydraulic meansbeing connected to said base means and the other of said hydraulic meansbeing connected to said door-closing means to expand said chamber uponmovement of said door-closing means and said piston by said spring meansand to contract said chamber upon movement of said door-closing meansand said piston in opposition to said spring means, one-way valve meansconnected to provide a unidirectional iiow of fluid from within saidsump into the end of said cylinder toward which said piston moves tocontract said chamber, and means defining a. restricted fluid escapepassage into said sump from said last mentioned end of said cylinder.

No references cited.

